Ignition mechanism for ins brnal-combustion engines



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` HARRY F. GEIsT, on RACINE, WISCONSIN,` AssIGNon, 'BY MESNEAssIeN'ME-Nrs, se

WEBSTER ELECTRIC COMPANY, or RACINE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION or jWISCONSIN.

IGNITION MECHANISM FOR IN'IllRNAL-COMBSTION ENGINES.

specification or Letters Patent.

' Application filed. September 20, 1915. Serial No.51,;632.

To all whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRY F. Gfnrs'r, a citizen of the United States,residing at Racine, in the'county of Racine and `State of Wisconsln haveinventeda certainvnew and' useful Improvement in Ignition Mechanism forInternal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a full, clear,concise, and

exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to ignition mechanism for internalcombustion'engines, and particularly to that type of. ignitionmechanism. wherein a magneto arranged to be driven by an associatedengine is so connected and related to make and break contact mechanismlocated Within the combustion chamber of the engine as to ei'ect theoperation of the'electrodes forming a part of the contact mechanism andthus accomplish the passing of an electric spark at the proper instantinthe cycleof engine operation.

The object of my present invention is to provide an ignition mechanismof this class that is capable of being economically manufactured, onewherein the 'operation of the make and break devices as Well as themagneto rotor are positively and properly effected. Simplicity ofconstruction is an essential feature of my present invention.

My invention is explained in detail in the following descriptionwher/ein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a view, partly in section and partly in elevation, illustrating theimproved mechanism of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2--2 of Fig'. 1 looking in thedirection indicatedfby Similar characters of reference 'refertov similarfigures throughout the several views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, I have illustrated' at (5 a bracket arrangedto lbe secured to the wall of an associated internal combustion engineby bolts or other similar instrumentalities passing .through apertures7-7 formed in the plate 8 which is integral with the aforesaid bracket6. The bracket 6 cornprises; a horizontal shelf 9 upon which is mounteda magneto generator 10 which may be of any approved type; that is,either of collar 14 keyed upon a shaft 15 extendingA through the bracket6 to the wall of the associated internal combustion engine cylinder. TheWall of the engine cylinder has been diagrammatically illustrated bydotted lines at 16. The collar 14: previously referred to is providedwith a pair of diametrically lopposite arms 17-17-,each ofwhichisconnected bracket 6 and yit Will thus be seen that the y springs 18-18normally serve to retain the magneto rotor andthe shaft l5 in thepositions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Carried Aby the left'hand endofthe shaft 15 (Fig. l)

" plurality of sleeves of metal andinsulating material and which unitbears in the bracket 6. The aforesaid unit comprises a metal sleeve 21around which is disposed a sleeve 22 of insulating material'. Disposedaround the insulating sleeve.22 is a sleeve 23 of conducting metal whichat the left hand end thereof' (Fig. 1) is provided with an arm 24.

carrying an elect-rode 24a which is disposed in immediate proximity tobut vnormally out of engagement with the electrode 20a, as clearlyillustrated in Fig. 3. The sleeve of insulating material serves toinsulate the sleeve 23 from the bracket (3 and the Wall of the engineycylinder and another sleeve 26 is provided vfor the purpose of bearingagainst the Walls of the bracket 6. It will be understood that'tlreseveral sleeves disposed around the shaft 15 constitute one unit asbefore stated and that these sleeves rotate together. I may 'state attliispoint that the electrode 20"*L is what nxayibe termed the groundedelectrode being 'grounded to the bracket through the springs 18-18, orby special conductors, if desired, and that the elect-rode 21E* is thcPatented July 1, 1919.

' the Wound rotor type or of the unwound ro- -by a spring 18 with anextension 1Q-of the insulated electrode and'is connected in themagnetofcircuit by a conductor connected withfa suitable clip 27 whichis in electrical engagement with the sleeve, 23,' as illustrated inFig. 1. Formed integral with the right hand end of the'sleeve 26fl-Jig. 1) is a depending arm 28 provided :t its lower end with anadJustable screw 29 normally vengaging a lug 3() carried by the shelf ofthe bracket 6. A spring 31 acting between the arm 28 andthe bracket 6normally serves to retain the arm 28 and parts connected thereto in thepositions illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. l

' The colla.' 14 which iswlisposed upon the right hand end of the shaft15 (Fig. l.) is provided with a trip finger 32 arranged to be driven byan engine driven actuator, as, for instance, a reciprocating rod to movethe shaft 15 and parts connected therewith,

against the tension of the springs H18--18 and then release theinger,fwhe1'eupon all of the parts connected with the collar 1l in-'cluding the shaft 15 and the magneto rotor shaft, are returned tonormal position. The

` generalconstruction and mode of operation of engine driven actuatorsof the Ytype men- I tioned are commonlyknown and, therefore,

I have thought it unnecessary to illustrate such a device in the presentdisclosure.

The mode of operation of the magneto just-described is as follows;

' The trip or push finger 32 is moved in a contraclockwise direction(Fig. 2) against the action of the springs 18-18 thereby moving themagneto rotor and the electrode 202l inasmuch as both of these parts areme? chanically connected with the pushfor trip finger. `When theelectrode 20a is so moved, it is brought into engagement with theelectrode 24a inasmuch as the electrode-24% is disposed in the path ofthe' electrode 20a.

After the electrode .20zt engages its associatedelectrode 24a andcontinues to move under the-action of the engine driven actuator, itlcarries the electrode.-24a with it against the action of the spring 31,whichnormally tends to hold the electrode 24a in the positionillustrated in' Figs. l and 3. Wheny the' trip finger 32is releasedVfrom the engine driven actuator, the springs 18-18 serve .to quicklymove vthe electrode 20a and the `rotor of the magneto toward theirnormal positions and the spring B1 returns the electrode 24a toward itsnormalposition. The electrodes 20a and 243L remain in engagement witheach otheruntil the screw 28 cornes into engagement with the lug 30(Fig. 2). When this occurs, further movement of theelectrode 24a isprevented and separationl of, the electrodes occurs. Itwill beunderstood that the adjustment of the several parts is such thatseparation of the electrodes occurs at the instant when the peak of thecurrent wave induced within the magneto windings is attained.. Thisoperation is repeated to produce a spark at the proper instant`- in eachcycle of the internal combustion engine to accomplish the necessaryignition. ofthe charge in a well known manner.

Attention is directed to the fact that the nlagneto .of my inventionhereinbefore de- 1cribed is removably mounted upon its associatedsupporting bracket 'and that the igniframework lhaving the rotor thereofdei..

tachablyiconnected with said shaft, means connected with the shaftarranged tol be engaged by an engine driven member to oscillate theshaft and rotor together' with spring means positively connected. withsaid Lshaft whereby said shaft is-incapableof movement except inopposition to said spring means,"said spring means arranged quickly toreturn the shaft and parts connected therewith to normal to effect theoperation 'of the electrodes and generate a current in the magneto whenthe shaft is oscillated by the engine driven member and released.

'-2. Amagneto ignite'r mechanism comprising a plug, a pair of make andbreak elec-l trodes, a shaft yextendingthrough said plug having one'ofsaid electrodes carried'on the inner end thereof, a' yoke carried by theouter endof said,shaft, fixed with respect thereto, andv incapable ofmovement inde# -pendently thereof, spring means acting between said yokeand amember fixed' with respect to said plug,- together with means y formoving said yoke and shaft' in oppositionto-said spring means,4v and,for 4tripping said l yoke `and.l shaft, and means for detachablyconnecting said shaft withthe .rotor of a magneto generator..

In witness whereof, I hereunto 'subscribe my name' this 18th day ofSeptember, A. D..

l y HARRY F. saisir.. llVitness/es:

' A.' G.. Moonen, C.VANGE.

